83_FR_42767 83 FR 42603 - Review of the Emergency Alert System

83 FR 42603 - Review of the Emergency Alert System

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 164 (August 23, 2018)

Page Range42603-42607
FR Document2018-18151

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) partially denies and partially grants a petition for partial reconsideration of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) requirements for certain Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite operators jointly filed by PanAmSat Corporation, SES Americom, Inc., and Intelsat, Ltd.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42603-42607]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18151]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 11

[EB Docket No. 04-296, PS Docket No. 15-94; FCC 18-102]


Review of the Emergency Alert System

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Petition for partial reconsideration; final decision.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC 
or Commission) partially denies and partially grants a petition for 
partial reconsideration of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) 
requirements for certain Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite 
operators jointly filed by PanAmSat Corporation, SES Americom, Inc., 
and Intelsat, Ltd.

DATES: Effective September 24, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory Cooke, Deputy Chief, Policy 
and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 
(202) 418-7452, or by email at Gregory.Cooke@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order 
on Reconsideration (Order) in EB Docket No. 04-296 and PS Docket No. 
15-94, FCC 18-102, adopted on July 23, 2018, and released on July 24, 
2018. The full text of this document is available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room 
CY-A257), 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may 
also be downloaded at: www.fcc.gov.

Synopsis

    1. In the Order, the Commission partially denies and partially 
grants the petition for partial reconsideration (Petition) of the EAS 
requirements for FSS satellite operators jointly filed by PanAmSat 
Corporation, SES Americom, Inc., and Intelsat, Ltd. (Petitioners). 
Specifically, the Commission denies Petitioners' request to shift the 
EAS obligations adopted for Ku band FSS licensees to the video 
programming distributors that lease transponder capacity from such 
licensees. The Commission also denies Petitioners' alternative request 
to not apply the FSS EAS rules to FSS satellite operations subject to 
satellite capacity lease agreements already in place when the FSS EAS 
requirements became effective. The Commission does, however, grant the 
Petition to the extent that it adopts more specific criteria for 
determining when EAS obligations are triggered for FSS licensees whose 
satellites are used to provide programming directed primarily to 
consumers outside the U.S., with only incidental reception by consumers 
in the U.S.

I. Background

A. The EAS

    2. The EAS is a national public warning system through which 
broadcasters, cable systems, and other service providers (EAS 
Participants) deliver alerts to the public to warn them of impending 
emergencies and dangers to life and property. The primary purpose of 
the EAS is to provide the President with ``the capability to provide 
immediate communications and information to the general public at the 
national, state and local levels during periods of national 
emergency.'' The EAS also is used by state and local governments, as 
well as the National Weather Service, to distribute alerts.

B. The EAS First Report and Order

    3. In 2005, in recognition that consumers were increasingly 
adopting digital technologies as replacements for analog broadcast and 
cable systems that were already subject to EAS requirements, the 
Commission adopted the First Report and Order and Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (First Report and Order) in EB Docket No. 04-296, 
70 FR 71023, 71072 (Nov. 25, 2005), expanding EAS obligations to 
digital television and radio, digital cable, and satellite television 
and radio services. The Commission deemed that ``some level of EAS 
participation must be established for these new digital services to 
ensure that large portions of the American public are able to receive 
national and/or regional public alerts and warnings.''
    4. With respect to satellite video services, the Commission, in 
part pursuant to its jurisdiction under section 303(v) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the ``Act''), to regulate 
direct-to-home (DTH) satellite services, extended EAS obligations to 
DBS services, as defined in section 25.701(a)(1)-(3) of the 
Commission's rules. As used in section 25.701(a), the definition of DBS 
includes entities licensed to operate FSS satellites in the Ku band 
that ``sell or lease capacity to a video programming distributor that 
offers service directly to consumers providing a sufficient number of 
channels so that four percent of the total applicable programming 
channels yields a set aside of at least one channel of non-commercial 
programming pursuant to [section 25.701(e) of the Commission's rules]'' 
(hereinafter, ``DTH-FSS licensees''). The Commission anticipated that 
this definition would ``ensure[ ] that the EAS rules apply to the vast 
majority of existing DTH satellite services, particularly those for 
which viewers may have expectations as to available warnings based on 
experience with broadcast television services.'' With respect to 
compliance requirements, the Commission generally required DBS entities 
to participate in national EAS activations, and meet related 
monitoring, testing and equipment readiness requirements.
    5. The Commission, however, allowed DTH-FSS licensees to delegate 
their EAS obligations to the video programming distributors that lease 
capacity on their satellites. Specifically, the Commission stated that 
``compliance with EAS requirements may be established based upon a 
certification from a [video programming] distributor that expressly 
states that the distributor has complied with the EAS obligations.'' 
The Commission added that the DTH-FSS licensees ``will not be required 
to verify compliance by distributors unless there is evidence that the 
distributor has not met its obligation.'' The Commission concluded that 
placing ultimate compliance responsibility on the DTH-FSS licensees 
under this scheme was not unduly burdensome because the ``certification 
requirements can be included in satellite carriage and leasing 
contracts,'' and because it was similar to the certification scheme 
adopted for FSS Part 25 licensees to meet their DBS public interest 
obligations. The Commission declined to apply EAS obligations to Home 
Satellite Dish (HSD) service, which also falls under the Commission's 
DTH jurisdiction.

C. The Petition

    6. The Petitioners state that they ``support the application of the 
EAS requirements to DTH-FSS services,'' but seek reconsideration of 
three aspects of the Commission's decision adopting such requirements. 
First, the Petition requests that the Commission modify the FSS EAS 
requirements adopted in the First Report and Order by applying

[[Page 42604]]

them directly to the video programming distributors that lease 
transponder capacity from the DTH-FSS licensees instead of applying 
them to the DTH-FSS licensees themselves. Second, in the alternative, 
the Petition requests that the Commission not apply the FSS EAS rules 
to satellite transponder(s) that were subject to pre-existing satellite 
capacity lease agreements already in place when the FSS EAS 
requirements became effective. Third, the Petition requests that the 
Commission ``provide an exemption from the EAS requirements for DTH-FSS 
services that are directed primarily to consumers outside the United 
States but also are made available to consumers in the United States.''
    7. With respect to their contention that responsibility for EAS 
compliance should be shifted from the DTH-FSS licensees to their lessee 
video programming distributors, Petitioners argue that, for all other 
services, the EAS rules apply to ``the entity that delivers programming 
to the consumer and therefore is in a position to substitute emergency 
messages when the EAS system is activated.'' Petitioners contend that 
``[i]n the case of broadcast services, for example, the requirements 
apply to the stations that transmit programming to consumers' radio and 
television receivers.'' Petitioners contend that the Commission did not 
explain why it departed from this approach in the DTH-FSS case. 
Petitioners argue that DTH-FSS programming distributors are best 
situated to comply with the FSS EAS requirements because they are the 
entities that generate and control the program content that is 
delivered via the satellite. Petitioners also liken their situation to 
the HSD providers exempted from EAS obligations in the First Report and 
Order in that, like HSD providers, DTH-FSS licensees do not control the 
programming that is transmitted over the satellite to HSD consumers.
    8. With respect to the certification mechanism through which DTH-
FSS licensees delegate responsibility for EAS obligations to their 
lessees, Petitioners argue that attaching EAS compliance obligations to 
DTH-FSS programming distributors through their capacity lease 
agreements with DTH-FSS satellite operators is inefficient, and does 
not provide for direct enforcement of compliance, but instead subjects 
resolution of compliance questions to private contract litigation.
    9. Petitioners also request that the FCC exempt DTH-FSS services 
offered primarily outside the U.S., but incidentally made available to 
U.S. subscribers. Petitioners contend that such exemption is needed 
because ``[i]t is highly improbable that the distributors of these 
services would be willing to preempt normal programming for 
announcements from the President of the United States.'' Instead, 
according to Petitioners, these video programming distributors would 
cease marketing their services in the U.S., thus depriving the public 
of ``access to valuable programming.'' Petitioners further argue that 
applying EAS requirements in this context amounts to regulating the 
content of foreign programming. Petitioners thus propose that the 
Commission exempt DTH services directed ``primarily in foreign 
countries'' from EAS obligations, and suggest that the Commission 
``employ a standard of 50% of the area or population within a footprint 
for determining whether the primary audience for a DTH service is 
outside the United States.''
    10. Two parties, EchoStar Satellite L.L.C. (EchoStar) and DIRECTV 
Latin America, LLC (DTVLA) filed oppositions to the Petition.

II. Discussion

    11. The Commission denies the Petition's request to apply the FSS 
EAS requirements directly to the video programming distributors that 
lease transponder capacity from DTH-FSS licensees instead of applying 
them to the DTH-FSS licensees themselves. As a practical matter, the 
Commission's ability to enforce the EAS requirements in this satellite 
context could be compromised if ultimate compliance responsibility were 
not placed on the DTH-FSS licensees. As the Commission observed in the 
DBS public interest certification proceeding (which implemented a 
certification regime upon which the DTH-FSS EAS certification scheme is 
modeled), the Commission has greater enforcement powers under the Act 
over satellite licensees than direct-to-home, non-licensee programmers, 
and it also has greater ownership information about such licensees than 
it has about these programmers. With respect to the DBS public interest 
certification scheme, the Commission concluded that ``placing the 
ultimate compliance responsibility on the satellite licensees is not 
unduly burdensome.'' The Commission arrives at the same conclusion in 
the context of DTH-FSS EAS obligations. The Commission observes that 
over the past decade during which the DTH-FSS EAS rules have been in 
effect, the Commission has not been apprised by DTH-FSS licensees of 
any significant problems associated with their implementation. That the 
DTH-FSS licensees lease the use of their satellites to video 
programming distributors and other entities is a business model choice 
of their own making that the EAS certification regime for DTH-FSS 
licensees attempts to accommodate.
    12. Petitioners contend that, in all cases but Petitioners', the 
Commission has applied the requirements associated with disseminating 
authorized EAS alerts ``to the entity that delivers programming to the 
consumer,'' and that DTH-FSS has been treated dissimilarly without 
explanation. The Commission finds that this comparison is inaccurate 
and thus rejects Petitioners' request to shift the compliance burden to 
program suppliers. As Petitioners themselves point out, for broadcast 
services, broadcast licensees must disseminate authorized EAS alerts 
and follow other related requirements. Similarly, in the case of cable 
services, the cable operator is responsible for following these EAS 
requirements. These EAS obligations, in either instance, do not attach 
to the entity that supplies the programming. In the case of DTH-FSS 
satellites, it is the FSS satellite transponders--not the program 
suppliers--that transmit the programming to consumer receivers, and are 
thus similarly situated to the other types of entities that participate 
in the EAS, and consequently, are appropriately subject to these EAS 
requirements.
    13. The Commission also denies the Petition's alternative request 
that the Commission not apply the FSS EAS rules in instances where 
satellite transponders are subject to preexisting capacity lease 
agreements that were in effect before the FSS EAS obligations became 
effective. The FSS EAS obligations were adopted on November 10, 2005, 
but were not made effective until May 31, 2007. Petitioners argue that 
``[t]he FSS satellite operators have no means [ ] of requiring EAS 
compliance in connection with capacity agreements that were entered 
into prior to the effective date of the R&O.'' Petitioners subsequently 
argued that ``many DTH-FSS capacity agreements are long-term contracts 
with terms extending beyond 2007.'' Petitioners did not specify how far 
beyond 2007 their capacity agreements entered into prior to the 
adoption of the FSS EAS requirements in 2005 might extend, and it is 
unclear whether any such agreements are still in effect today. That 
said, licensees in a regulated industry remain subject to new rules 
deemed by the Commission to be appropriate and in the public interest. 
As to the particular circumstances here, the

[[Page 42605]]

Commission expects that such private arrangements would have included 
accommodations to account for changes in the regulatory or statutory 
framework. And, had such implementation issues persisted beyond that 
time frame, the Commission would have expected to see other indicia of 
such difficulties. In any event, the Commission observes that the FSS 
EAS certification regime was adopted as an optional mechanism through 
which DTH-FSS licensees can delegate the performance of EAS obligations 
for which they are ultimately responsible to their DTH-FSS video 
programming distributor lessees. While the Commission contemplated this 
as one option for meeting these obligations, it did not suggest that it 
would be the only one available. Accordingly, those DTH FSS licensees 
that do not consider it feasible or efficient to delegate performance 
of these obligations to their DTH-FSS video programming distributor 
lessees always have the option of relying on their own devices to meet 
these obligations themselves.
    14. With respect to Petitioners' request that they be exempted from 
EAS requirements DTH-FSS services that are directed primarily to 
consumers outside the U.S., but incidentally received by consumers in 
the U.S., the Commission agrees with Petitioners that EAS obligations 
should not apply in such cases. The Commission does not believe it was 
intended for EAS obligations adopted in the First Report and Order to 
be applied to DTH-FSS-based services that are directed to consumers 
outside the U.S., but which incidentally include geographic overlap 
with the U.S. by virtue of the satellite transponder's footprint. In 
adopting the DBS service definition in section 25.701(a), the 
Commission emphasized that this definition would capture those services 
``for which viewers may have expectations as to available warnings 
based on experience with broadcast television services.'' Such 
expectations are unlikely to be shared by viewers outside the U.S. The 
Commission also observed that ``extending national level EAS 
requirements to DBS providers serves the public interest by ensuring 
that the significant portion of the American public that are DBS 
subscribers have access to this critical emergency information.'' To 
require that programming intended for consumers outside of the U.S. 
comply with the EAS rules would significantly increase regulatory 
burdens on DTH-FSS service providers without delivering a measurable 
benefit to an unintended U.S. audience that is unlikely to be watching 
the DTH-FSS programming. Such a result would be inconsistent with the 
Commission's stated rationales and intent for extending EAS obligations 
to DBS services. At the same time, the Commission is mindful that U.S. 
consumers who have a reasonable basis to expect that EAS alerts will be 
offered over such DTS-FSS services receive alerts consistent with those 
expectations.
    15. Accordingly, in balancing these policy objectives, the 
Commission grants partial reconsideration of its EAS rules to 
Petitioners to ensure that DTH-FSS licensees deliver EAS alerts to DTH-
FSS service consumers within the United States that have an expectation 
that they will receive EAS alerts, rather than to U.S.-based consumers 
who incidentally receive such DTH-FSS services. Petitioners have argued 
that the DTH-FSS EAS obligations should be triggered based on the U.S. 
territory encompassed within the FSS licensee's transponder footprint 
and propose a trigger based on whether 50% of the area or population 
within the DTH-FSS transponder footprint is within the contiguous 
United States (CONUS). The Commission agrees that the geographic area 
covered by the DTH-FSS transponder footprint is an appropriate measure 
of whether the DTH-FSS is focused on U.S. consumers, but disagrees that 
it should be the sole measure. Use of geographic area coverage area 
alone could exclude substantial portions of the U.S. from receiving EAS 
alerts where consumers could reasonably expect EAS to be provided. For 
example, under Petitioners' suggestion, a DTH-FSS transponder could be 
centered on a U.S. city on the border with Mexico and have DTH-FSS 
service that is marketed actively to U.S. consumers in that city, but 
would be exempt from the EAS rules if more than 50% of the transponder 
footprint covered Mexico. The Commission does not find such a result to 
be in the public interest.
    16. The Commission therefore establishes multiple criteria by which 
it will determine whether the DTH-FSS programing is directed to a 
United States audience for purposes of determining EAS obligations, or 
is merely incidentally received: (1) Whether the center of the 
footprint of the antenna beam associated with the transponder used to 
provide the DTH-FSS service is within the United States; (2) whether at 
least 50 percent of the footprint of the antenna beam associated with 
the transponder used to provide DTH-FSS covers territory within the 
United States; or (3) whether the DTH-FSS service is marketed to U.S. 
consumers, either through advertising campaigns or promotional 
materials that are focused on potential subscribers located within the 
United States. If any of these three factors is present, the Commission 
finds that it is likely that the DTH-FSS service is focused on U.S. 
consumers, and therefore is within the intended scope of the 
Commission's EAS rules.
    17. Finally, with respect to the DTH-FSS EAS obligation triggering 
criteria that the video program distributor's service include a 
sufficient number of channels such that four percent of the total 
applicable programming channels yields a set aside of at least one 
channel of non-commercial programming, the Commission observes that the 
Commission previously has clarified that this four percent set aside 
threshold is not triggered until at least 25 channels of video 
programming are being offered. To the extent it was not clear that this 
earlier finding also applies in the FSS EAS context, the Commission 
incorporates it here.

III. Procedural Matters

A. Accessible Formats

    18. To request materials in accessible formats for people with 
disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), 
send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental 
Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

B. Supplemental Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    19. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), as 
amended, an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was 
incorporated in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in EB Docket 
No. 04-296, 69 FR 52843 (Aug. 30, 2004). The Commission sought written 
public comment on the proposals in the NPRM, including comments on the 
IRFA. No comments were filed addressing the IRFA. The Commission 
included a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) in the First 
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (First 
Report and Order) in EB Docket No. 04-296, 70 FR 71023, 71072 (Nov. 25, 
2005). This Supplemental Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis 
(Supplemental FRFA) supplements the FRFA to reflect the actions taken 
in this Order and conforms to the RFA.
1. Need for, and Objective of, the Order
    20. In the First Report and Order, the Commission extended 
Emergency Alert System (EAS) obligations to digital television and 
radio, digital cable, and

[[Page 42606]]

satellite television and radio services. Among other things, the 
Commission extended EAS obligations to Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) 
services, as defined in section 25.701(a)(1)-(3) of the Commission's 
rules. As used in section 25.701(a), the definition of DBS includes 
entities licensed to operate Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite in 
the Ku band that ``sell or lease capacity to a video programming 
distributor that offers service directly to consumers providing a 
sufficient number of channels so that four percent of the total 
applicable programming channels yields a set aside of at least one 
channel of non-commercial programming pursuant to [section 25.701(e) of 
the Commission's rules]'' (hereinafter, ``DTH-FSS licensees'').
    21. In this Order, the Commission grants, to the extent described 
herein, a petition for partial reconsideration of the First Report and 
Order jointly filed in 2005 by PanAmSat Corporation, SES Americom, 
Inc., and Intelsat, Ltd. (collectively, Petitioners). In particular, 
the Commission denies all the specific requests made by Petitioners, 
and clarifies the criteria triggering when the EAS obligations apply to 
DTH-FSS licensees.
2. Summary of Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments in Response 
to the IRFA
    22. There were no comments filed that specifically addressed the 
proposed rules and policies presented in the IRFA.
3. Response to Comments by the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration
    23. Pursuant to the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, which amended 
the RFA, the Commission is required to respond to any comments filed by 
the Chief Counsel of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and to 
provide a detailed statement of any change made to the proposed rule(s) 
as a result of those comments.
    24. The Chief Counsel did not file any comments in response to the 
proposed rule(s) in this proceeding.
4. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which 
the Rules Would Apply
    25. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of and, where 
feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be 
affected by the proposed rules, if adopted herein. The RFA generally 
defines the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the 
terms ``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small 
governmental jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small business'' 
has the same meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the 
Small Business Act. A ``small business concern'' is one which: (1) Is 
independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of 
operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the 
SBA.
    26. As noted above, a FRFA was incorporated into the First Report 
and Order. In that analysis, the Commission described in detail the 
small entities that might be significantly affected by the rules 
adopted in the First Report and Order. In this Order, the Commission 
hereby incorporates by reference the descriptions and estimates of the 
number of small entities from the previous FRFA in this proceeding.
5. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements for Small Entities
    27. The data, information and document collection required by the 
First Report and Order as described in the previous FRFA in this 
proceeding is hereby incorporated by reference. The actions taken in 
this Order do not amend or otherwise revise those requirements, except 
to refine the criteria that determine when DTH-FSS licensees are 
subject to EAS obligations. More specifically, the Commission finds 
that the criteria triggering DTH-FSS EAS obligations only applies in 
instances where the FSS capacity sold or leased to the video 
programming distributor is effected over a DTH-FSS transponder for 
which (1) the center of the footprint of the antenna beam associated 
with the transponder used to provide the DTH-FSS service is within the 
United States, (2) at least 50 percent of the footprint of the antenna 
beam associated with the transponder used to provide DTH-FSS covers 
territory within the United States, or (3) where the DTH-FSS service is 
marketed to U.S. consumers, either through advertising campaigns or 
promotional materials that are focused on potential subscribers located 
within the United States. If any of these three factors is present, the 
Commission finds that it is likely that the DTH-FSS service is focused 
on U.S. consumers. This aspect of the decision is consistent with the 
Commission's intent expressed in the First Report and Order for 
extending EAS alert delivery to American subscribers of DBS services.
6. Steps Taken To Minimize the Significant Economic Impact on Small 
Entities, and Significant Alternatives Considered
    28. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant 
alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach, 
which may include the following four alternatives (among others): ``(1) 
the establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or 
timetables that take into account the resources available to small 
entities; (2) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of 
compliance or reporting requirements under the rule for small entities; 
(3) the use of performance, rather than design, standards; and (4) and 
exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small 
entities.''
    29. The analysis of the Commission's efforts to minimize the 
possible significant economic impact on small entities as described in 
the previous FRFA in this proceeding is hereby incorporated by 
reference.

Report to Congress

    30. The Commission will not send a copy of this Order, including 
this Supplemental FRFA, in a report to Congress pursuant to the 
Congressional Review Act. In addition, the Commission will send a copy 
of this Order, including this Supplemental FRFA, to the Chief Counsel 
for Advocacy of the SBA. A copy of this Order and Supplemental FRFA (or 
summaries thereof) will also be published in the Federal Register.

D. Additional Information

    31. People with Disabilities. To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).
    32. Additional Information. For additional information on this 
proceeding, contact Gregory Cooke of the Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau, Policy and Licensing Division, gregory.cooke@fcc.gov, 
(202) 418-2351.

IV. Ordering Clauses

    33. Accordingly, it is ordered that pursuant to sections 1, 2, 
4(i), 4(o), 301, 303(r), 303(v), 307, 309, 335, 403, 624(g),706, and 
715 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 
154(i), 154(o), 301, 303(r), 303(v), 307, 309, 335, 403, 544(g), 606, 
and 615, this Order on Reconsideration is adopted,

[[Page 42607]]

and the petition for partial reconsideration filed by PanAmSat 
Corporation, SES Americom, Inc., and Intelsat, Ltd. is hereby granted 
as described herein, and otherwise denied.
    34. It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this Order on Reconsideration, including the Supplemental Final 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration.

Federal Communications Commission.

Katura Jackson,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-18151 Filed 8-22-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P



                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                         42603

                                               Dated: August 9, 2018.                                distributors that lease transponder                   definition of DBS includes entities
                                             Katherine B. Fox,                                       capacity from such licensees. The                     licensed to operate FSS satellites in the
                                             Assistant Administrator for Mitigation,                 Commission also denies Petitioners’                   Ku band that ‘‘sell or lease capacity to
                                             Federal Insurance and Mitigation                        alternative request to not apply the FSS              a video programming distributor that
                                             Administration—FEMA Resilience,                         EAS rules to FSS satellite operations                 offers service directly to consumers
                                             Department of Homeland Security, Federal                subject to satellite capacity lease                   providing a sufficient number of
                                             Emergency Management Agency.                            agreements already in place when the                  channels so that four percent of the total
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–18150 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am]             FSS EAS requirements became effective.                applicable programming channels yields
                                             BILLING CODE 9110–12–P                                  The Commission does, however, grant                   a set aside of at least one channel of
                                                                                                     the Petition to the extent that it adopts             non-commercial programming pursuant
                                                                                                     more specific criteria for determining                to [section 25.701(e) of the
                                             FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                  when EAS obligations are triggered for                Commission’s rules]’’ (hereinafter,
                                             COMMISSION                                              FSS licensees whose satellites are used               ‘‘DTH–FSS licensees’’). The
                                                                                                     to provide programming directed                       Commission anticipated that this
                                             47 CFR Part 11                                          primarily to consumers outside the U.S.,              definition would ‘‘ensure[ ] that the EAS
                                                                                                     with only incidental reception by                     rules apply to the vast majority of
                                             [EB Docket No. 04–296, PS Docket No. 15–                                                                      existing DTH satellite services,
                                             94; FCC 18–102]                                         consumers in the U.S.
                                                                                                                                                           particularly those for which viewers
                                                                                                     I. Background                                         may have expectations as to available
                                             Review of the Emergency Alert System
                                                                                                     A. The EAS                                            warnings based on experience with
                                             AGENCY:  Federal Communications                                                                               broadcast television services.’’ With
                                             Commission.                                               2. The EAS is a national public                     respect to compliance requirements, the
                                                                                                     warning system through which                          Commission generally required DBS
                                             ACTION: Petition for partial
                                                                                                     broadcasters, cable systems, and other                entities to participate in national EAS
                                             reconsideration; final decision.                        service providers (EAS Participants)                  activations, and meet related
                                             SUMMARY:    In this document, the Federal               deliver alerts to the public to warn them             monitoring, testing and equipment
                                             Communications Commission (FCC or                       of impending emergencies and dangers                  readiness requirements.
                                             Commission) partially denies and                        to life and property. The primary                        5. The Commission, however, allowed
                                             partially grants a petition for partial                 purpose of the EAS is to provide the                  DTH–FSS licensees to delegate their
                                             reconsideration of the Emergency Alert                  President with ‘‘the capability to                    EAS obligations to the video
                                             System (EAS) requirements for certain                   provide immediate communications and                  programming distributors that lease
                                             Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite                 information to the general public at the              capacity on their satellites. Specifically,
                                             operators jointly filed by PanAmSat                     national, state and local levels during               the Commission stated that ‘‘compliance
                                             Corporation, SES Americom, Inc., and                    periods of national emergency.’’ The                  with EAS requirements may be
                                             Intelsat, Ltd.                                          EAS also is used by state and local                   established based upon a certification
                                                                                                     governments, as well as the National                  from a [video programming] distributor
                                             DATES: Effective September 24, 2018.
                                                                                                     Weather Service, to distribute alerts.                that expressly states that the distributor
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                     B. The EAS First Report and Order                     has complied with the EAS
                                             Gregory Cooke, Deputy Chief, Policy                                                                           obligations.’’ The Commission added
                                             and Licensing Division, Public Safety                      3. In 2005, in recognition that                    that the DTH–FSS licensees ‘‘will not be
                                             and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202)                  consumers were increasingly adopting                  required to verify compliance by
                                             418–7452, or by email at                                digital technologies as replacements for              distributors unless there is evidence that
                                             Gregory.Cooke@fcc.gov.                                  analog broadcast and cable systems that               the distributor has not met its
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a                    were already subject to EAS                           obligation.’’ The Commission concluded
                                             summary of the Commission’s Order on                    requirements, the Commission adopted                  that placing ultimate compliance
                                             Reconsideration (Order) in EB Docket                    the First Report and Order and Further                responsibility on the DTH–FSS
                                             No. 04–296 and PS Docket No. 15–94,                     Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (First                  licensees under this scheme was not
                                             FCC 18–102, adopted on July 23, 2018,                   Report and Order) in EB Docket No. 04–                unduly burdensome because the
                                             and released on July 24, 2018. The full                 296, 70 FR 71023, 71072 (Nov. 25,                     ‘‘certification requirements can be
                                             text of this document is available for                  2005), expanding EAS obligations to                   included in satellite carriage and leasing
                                             inspection and copying during normal                    digital television and radio, digital                 contracts,’’ and because it was similar to
                                             business hours in the FCC Reference                     cable, and satellite television and radio             the certification scheme adopted for FSS
                                             Center (Room CY–A257), 445 12th                         services. The Commission deemed that                  Part 25 licensees to meet their DBS
                                             Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. The                    ‘‘some level of EAS participation must                public interest obligations. The
                                             full text may also be downloaded at:                    be established for these new digital                  Commission declined to apply EAS
                                             www.fcc.gov.                                            services to ensure that large portions of             obligations to Home Satellite Dish
                                                                                                     the American public are able to receive               (HSD) service, which also falls under
                                             Synopsis                                                national and/or regional public alerts                the Commission’s DTH jurisdiction.
                                                1. In the Order, the Commission                      and warnings.’’
                                             partially denies and partially grants the                  4. With respect to satellite video                 C. The Petition
                                             petition for partial reconsideration                    services, the Commission, in part                        6. The Petitioners state that they
                                             (Petition) of the EAS requirements for                  pursuant to its jurisdiction under                    ‘‘support the application of the EAS
                                             FSS satellite operators jointly filed by                section 303(v) of the Communications                  requirements to DTH–FSS services,’’ but
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                                             PanAmSat Corporation, SES Americom,                     Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Act’’), to             seek reconsideration of three aspects of
                                             Inc., and Intelsat, Ltd. (Petitioners).                 regulate direct-to-home (DTH) satellite               the Commission’s decision adopting
                                             Specifically, the Commission denies                     services, extended EAS obligations to                 such requirements. First, the Petition
                                             Petitioners’ request to shift the EAS                   DBS services, as defined in section                   requests that the Commission modify
                                             obligations adopted for Ku band FSS                     25.701(a)(1)–(3) of the Commission’s                  the FSS EAS requirements adopted in
                                             licensees to the video programming                      rules. As used in section 25.701(a), the              the First Report and Order by applying


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                                             42604            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             them directly to the video programming                  subscribers. Petitioners contend that                 implementation. That the DTH–FSS
                                             distributors that lease transponder                     such exemption is needed because ‘‘[i]t               licensees lease the use of their satellites
                                             capacity from the DTH–FSS licensees                     is highly improbable that the                         to video programming distributors and
                                             instead of applying them to the DTH–                    distributors of these services would be               other entities is a business model choice
                                             FSS licensees themselves. Second, in                    willing to preempt normal programming                 of their own making that the EAS
                                             the alternative, the Petition requests that             for announcements from the President                  certification regime for DTH–FSS
                                             the Commission not apply the FSS EAS                    of the United States.’’ Instead, according            licensees attempts to accommodate.
                                             rules to satellite transponder(s) that                  to Petitioners, these video programming                  12. Petitioners contend that, in all
                                             were subject to pre-existing satellite                  distributors would cease marketing their              cases but Petitioners’, the Commission
                                             capacity lease agreements already in                    services in the U.S., thus depriving the              has applied the requirements associated
                                             place when the FSS EAS requirements                     public of ‘‘access to valuable                        with disseminating authorized EAS
                                             became effective. Third, the Petition                   programming.’’ Petitioners further argue              alerts ‘‘to the entity that delivers
                                             requests that the Commission ‘‘provide                  that applying EAS requirements in this                programming to the consumer,’’ and
                                             an exemption from the EAS                               context amounts to regulating the                     that DTH–FSS has been treated
                                             requirements for DTH–FSS services that                  content of foreign programming.                       dissimilarly without explanation. The
                                             are directed primarily to consumers                     Petitioners thus propose that the                     Commission finds that this comparison
                                             outside the United States but also are                  Commission exempt DTH services                        is inaccurate and thus rejects
                                             made available to consumers in the                      directed ‘‘primarily in foreign                       Petitioners’ request to shift the
                                             United States.’’                                        countries’’ from EAS obligations, and                 compliance burden to program
                                                7. With respect to their contention                  suggest that the Commission ‘‘employ a                suppliers. As Petitioners themselves
                                             that responsibility for EAS compliance                  standard of 50% of the area or                        point out, for broadcast services,
                                             should be shifted from the DTH–FSS                      population within a footprint for                     broadcast licensees must disseminate
                                             licensees to their lessee video                         determining whether the primary                       authorized EAS alerts and follow other
                                             programming distributors, Petitioners                   audience for a DTH service is outside                 related requirements. Similarly, in the
                                             argue that, for all other services, the                 the United States.’’                                  case of cable services, the cable operator
                                             EAS rules apply to ‘‘the entity that                       10. Two parties, EchoStar Satellite                is responsible for following these EAS
                                             delivers programming to the consumer                    L.L.C. (EchoStar) and DIRECTV Latin                   requirements. These EAS obligations, in
                                             and therefore is in a position to                       America, LLC (DTVLA) filed                            either instance, do not attach to the
                                             substitute emergency messages when                      oppositions to the Petition.                          entity that supplies the programming. In
                                             the EAS system is activated.’’                                                                                the case of DTH–FSS satellites, it is the
                                                                                                     II. Discussion
                                             Petitioners contend that ‘‘[i]n the case of                                                                   FSS satellite transponders—not the
                                             broadcast services, for example, the                       11. The Commission denies the                      program suppliers—that transmit the
                                             requirements apply to the stations that                 Petition’s request to apply the FSS EAS               programming to consumer receivers,
                                             transmit programming to consumers’                      requirements directly to the video                    and are thus similarly situated to the
                                             radio and television receivers.’’                       programming distributors that lease                   other types of entities that participate in
                                             Petitioners contend that the                            transponder capacity from DTH–FSS                     the EAS, and consequently, are
                                             Commission did not explain why it                       licensees instead of applying them to                 appropriately subject to these EAS
                                             departed from this approach in the                      the DTH–FSS licensees themselves. As                  requirements.
                                             DTH–FSS case. Petitioners argue that                    a practical matter, the Commission’s                     13. The Commission also denies the
                                             DTH–FSS programming distributors are                    ability to enforce the EAS requirements               Petition’s alternative request that the
                                             best situated to comply with the FSS                    in this satellite context could be                    Commission not apply the FSS EAS
                                             EAS requirements because they are the                   compromised if ultimate compliance                    rules in instances where satellite
                                             entities that generate and control the                  responsibility were not placed on the                 transponders are subject to preexisting
                                             program content that is delivered via the               DTH–FSS licensees. As the Commission                  capacity lease agreements that were in
                                             satellite. Petitioners also liken their                 observed in the DBS public interest                   effect before the FSS EAS obligations
                                             situation to the HSD providers                          certification proceeding (which                       became effective. The FSS EAS
                                             exempted from EAS obligations in the                    implemented a certification regime                    obligations were adopted on November
                                             First Report and Order in that, like HSD                upon which the DTH–FSS EAS                            10, 2005, but were not made effective
                                             providers, DTH–FSS licensees do not                     certification scheme is modeled), the                 until May 31, 2007. Petitioners argue
                                             control the programming that is                         Commission has greater enforcement                    that ‘‘[t]he FSS satellite operators have
                                             transmitted over the satellite to HSD                   powers under the Act over satellite                   no means [ ] of requiring EAS
                                             consumers.                                              licensees than direct-to-home, non-                   compliance in connection with capacity
                                                8. With respect to the certification                 licensee programmers, and it also has                 agreements that were entered into prior
                                             mechanism through which DTH–FSS                         greater ownership information about                   to the effective date of the R&O.’’
                                             licensees delegate responsibility for EAS               such licensees than it has about these                Petitioners subsequently argued that
                                             obligations to their lessees, Petitioners               programmers. With respect to the DBS                  ‘‘many DTH–FSS capacity agreements
                                             argue that attaching EAS compliance                     public interest certification scheme, the             are long-term contracts with terms
                                             obligations to DTH–FSS programming                      Commission concluded that ‘‘placing                   extending beyond 2007.’’ Petitioners did
                                             distributors through their capacity lease               the ultimate compliance responsibility                not specify how far beyond 2007 their
                                             agreements with DTH–FSS satellite                       on the satellite licensees is not unduly              capacity agreements entered into prior
                                             operators is inefficient, and does not                  burdensome.’’ The Commission arrives                  to the adoption of the FSS EAS
                                             provide for direct enforcement of                       at the same conclusion in the context of              requirements in 2005 might extend, and
                                                                                                     DTH–FSS EAS obligations. The
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                                             compliance, but instead subjects                                                                              it is unclear whether any such
                                             resolution of compliance questions to                   Commission observes that over the past                agreements are still in effect today. That
                                             private contract litigation.                            decade during which the DTH–FSS EAS                   said, licensees in a regulated industry
                                                9. Petitioners also request that the                 rules have been in effect, the                        remain subject to new rules deemed by
                                             FCC exempt DTH–FSS services offered                     Commission has not been apprised by                   the Commission to be appropriate and
                                             primarily outside the U.S., but                         DTH–FSS licensees of any significant                  in the public interest. As to the
                                             incidentally made available to U.S.                     problems associated with their                        particular circumstances here, the


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                         42605

                                             Commission expects that such private                    watching the DTH–FSS programming.                     consumers, either through advertising
                                             arrangements would have included                        Such a result would be inconsistent                   campaigns or promotional materials that
                                             accommodations to account for changes                   with the Commission’s stated rationales               are focused on potential subscribers
                                             in the regulatory or statutory framework.               and intent for extending EAS                          located within the United States. If any
                                             And, had such implementation issues                     obligations to DBS services. At the same              of these three factors is present, the
                                             persisted beyond that time frame, the                   time, the Commission is mindful that                  Commission finds that it is likely that
                                             Commission would have expected to see                   U.S. consumers who have a reasonable                  the DTH–FSS service is focused on U.S.
                                             other indicia of such difficulties. In any              basis to expect that EAS alerts will be               consumers, and therefore is within the
                                             event, the Commission observes that the                 offered over such DTS–FSS services                    intended scope of the Commission’s
                                             FSS EAS certification regime was                        receive alerts consistent with those                  EAS rules.
                                             adopted as an optional mechanism                        expectations.                                            17. Finally, with respect to the DTH–
                                             through which DTH–FSS licensees can                        15. Accordingly, in balancing these                FSS EAS obligation triggering criteria
                                             delegate the performance of EAS                         policy objectives, the Commission                     that the video program distributor’s
                                             obligations for which they are                          grants partial reconsideration of its EAS             service include a sufficient number of
                                             ultimately responsible to their DTH–                    rules to Petitioners to ensure that DTH–              channels such that four percent of the
                                             FSS video programming distributor                       FSS licensees deliver EAS alerts to                   total applicable programming channels
                                             lessees. While the Commission                           DTH–FSS service consumers within the                  yields a set aside of at least one channel
                                             contemplated this as one option for                     United States that have an expectation                of non-commercial programming, the
                                             meeting these obligations, it did not                   that they will receive EAS alerts, rather             Commission observes that the
                                             suggest that it would be the only one                   than to U.S.-based consumers who                      Commission previously has clarified
                                             available. Accordingly, those DTH FSS                   incidentally receive such DTH–FSS                     that this four percent set aside threshold
                                             licensees that do not consider it feasible              services. Petitioners have argued that                is not triggered until at least 25 channels
                                             or efficient to delegate performance of                 the DTH–FSS EAS obligations should be                 of video programming are being offered.
                                             these obligations to their DTH–FSS                      triggered based on the U.S. territory                 To the extent it was not clear that this
                                             video programming distributor lessees                   encompassed within the FSS licensee’s                 earlier finding also applies in the FSS
                                             always have the option of relying on                    transponder footprint and propose a                   EAS context, the Commission
                                             their own devices to meet these                         trigger based on whether 50% of the                   incorporates it here.
                                             obligations themselves.                                 area or population within the DTH–FSS
                                                                                                     transponder footprint is within the                   III. Procedural Matters
                                                14. With respect to Petitioners’                     contiguous United States (CONUS). The
                                             request that they be exempted from EAS                                                                        A. Accessible Formats
                                                                                                     Commission agrees that the geographic
                                             requirements DTH–FSS services that are                  area covered by the DTH–FSS                             18. To request materials in accessible
                                             directed primarily to consumers outside                 transponder footprint is an appropriate               formats for people with disabilities
                                             the U.S., but incidentally received by                  measure of whether the DTH–FSS is                     (Braille, large print, electronic files,
                                             consumers in the U.S., the Commission                   focused on U.S. consumers, but                        audio format), send an email to fcc504@
                                             agrees with Petitioners that EAS                        disagrees that it should be the sole                  fcc.gov or call the Consumer &
                                             obligations should not apply in such                    measure. Use of geographic area                       Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202–
                                             cases. The Commission does not believe                  coverage area alone could exclude                     418–0530 (voice), 202–418–0432 (tty).
                                             it was intended for EAS obligations                     substantial portions of the U.S. from
                                             adopted in the First Report and Order to                                                                      B. Supplemental Final Regulatory
                                                                                                     receiving EAS alerts where consumers                  Flexibility Analysis
                                             be applied to DTH–FSS-based services                    could reasonably expect EAS to be
                                             that are directed to consumers outside                  provided. For example, under                            19. As required by the Regulatory
                                             the U.S., but which incidentally include                Petitioners’ suggestion, a DTH–FSS                    Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), as
                                             geographic overlap with the U.S. by                     transponder could be centered on a U.S.               amended, an Initial Regulatory
                                             virtue of the satellite transponder’s                   city on the border with Mexico and have               Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was
                                             footprint. In adopting the DBS service                  DTH–FSS service that is marketed                      incorporated in the Notice of Proposed
                                             definition in section 25.701(a), the                    actively to U.S. consumers in that city,              Rulemaking (NPRM) in EB Docket No.
                                             Commission emphasized that this                         but would be exempt from the EAS                      04–296, 69 FR 52843 (Aug. 30, 2004).
                                             definition would capture those services                 rules if more than 50% of the                         The Commission sought written public
                                             ‘‘for which viewers may have                            transponder footprint covered Mexico.                 comment on the proposals in the NPRM,
                                             expectations as to available warnings                   The Commission does not find such a                   including comments on the IRFA. No
                                             based on experience with broadcast                      result to be in the public interest.                  comments were filed addressing the
                                             television services.’’ Such expectations                   16. The Commission therefore                       IRFA. The Commission included a Final
                                             are unlikely to be shared by viewers                    establishes multiple criteria by which it             Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA)
                                             outside the U.S. The Commission also                    will determine whether the DTH–FSS                    in the First Report and Order and
                                             observed that ‘‘extending national level                programing is directed to a United                    Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
                                             EAS requirements to DBS providers                       States audience for purposes of                       (First Report and Order) in EB Docket
                                             serves the public interest by ensuring                  determining EAS obligations, or is                    No. 04–296, 70 FR 71023, 71072 (Nov.
                                             that the significant portion of the                     merely incidentally received: (1)                     25, 2005). This Supplemental Final
                                             American public that are DBS                            Whether the center of the footprint of                Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
                                             subscribers have access to this critical                the antenna beam associated with the                  (Supplemental FRFA) supplements the
                                             emergency information.’’ To require that                transponder used to provide the DTH–                  FRFA to reflect the actions taken in this
                                             programming intended for consumers
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                                                                                                     FSS service is within the United States;              Order and conforms to the RFA.
                                             outside of the U.S. comply with the EAS                 (2) whether at least 50 percent of the
                                             rules would significantly increase                      footprint of the antenna beam associated              1. Need for, and Objective of, the Order
                                             regulatory burdens on DTH–FSS service                   with the transponder used to provide                     20. In the First Report and Order, the
                                             providers without delivering a                          DTH–FSS covers territory within the                   Commission extended Emergency Alert
                                             measurable benefit to an unintended                     United States; or (3) whether the DTH–                System (EAS) obligations to digital
                                             U.S. audience that is unlikely to be                    FSS service is marketed to U.S.                       television and radio, digital cable, and


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                                             42606            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations

                                             satellite television and radio services.                governmental jurisdiction.’’ In addition,             6. Steps Taken To Minimize the
                                             Among other things, the Commission                      the term ‘‘small business’’ has the same              Significant Economic Impact on Small
                                             extended EAS obligations to Direct                      meaning as the term ‘‘small business                  Entities, and Significant Alternatives
                                             Broadcast Satellite (DBS) services, as                  concern’’ under the Small Business Act.               Considered
                                             defined in section 25.701(a)(1)–(3) of the              A ‘‘small business concern’’ is one                      28. The RFA requires an agency to
                                             Commission’s rules. As used in section                  which: (1) Is independently owned and                 describe any significant alternatives that
                                             25.701(a), the definition of DBS                        operated; (2) is not dominant in its field            it has considered in reaching its
                                             includes entities licensed to operate                   of operation; and (3) satisfies any                   proposed approach, which may include
                                             Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) satellite in              additional criteria established by the                the following four alternatives (among
                                             the Ku band that ‘‘sell or lease capacity               SBA.                                                  others): ‘‘(1) the establishment of
                                             to a video programming distributor that                                                                       differing compliance or reporting
                                             offers service directly to consumers                      26. As noted above, a FRFA was
                                                                                                                                                           requirements or timetables that take into
                                             providing a sufficient number of                        incorporated into the First Report and
                                                                                                                                                           account the resources available to small
                                             channels so that four percent of the total              Order. In that analysis, the Commission
                                                                                                                                                           entities; (2) the clarification,
                                             applicable programming channels yields                  described in detail the small entities                consolidation, or simplification of
                                             a set aside of at least one channel of                  that might be significantly affected by               compliance or reporting requirements
                                             non-commercial programming pursuant                     the rules adopted in the First Report and             under the rule for small entities; (3) the
                                             to [section 25.701(e) of the                            Order. In this Order, the Commission                  use of performance, rather than design,
                                             Commission’s rules]’’ (hereinafter,                     hereby incorporates by reference the                  standards; and (4) and exemption from
                                             ‘‘DTH–FSS licensees’’).                                 descriptions and estimates of the                     coverage of the rule, or any part thereof,
                                                21. In this Order, the Commission                    number of small entities from the                     for small entities.’’
                                             grants, to the extent described herein, a               previous FRFA in this proceeding.                        29. The analysis of the Commission’s
                                             petition for partial reconsideration of                                                                       efforts to minimize the possible
                                             the First Report and Order jointly filed                5. Description of Projected Reporting,                significant economic impact on small
                                             in 2005 by PanAmSat Corporation, SES                    Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance                   entities as described in the previous
                                             Americom, Inc., and Intelsat, Ltd.                      Requirements for Small Entities                       FRFA in this proceeding is hereby
                                             (collectively, Petitioners). In particular,                                                                   incorporated by reference.
                                             the Commission denies all the specific                     27. The data, information and
                                             requests made by Petitioners, and                       document collection required by the                   Report to Congress
                                             clarifies the criteria triggering when the              First Report and Order as described in                  30. The Commission will not send a
                                             EAS obligations apply to DTH–FSS                        the previous FRFA in this proceeding is               copy of this Order, including this
                                             licensees.                                              hereby incorporated by reference. The                 Supplemental FRFA, in a report to
                                                                                                     actions taken in this Order do not                    Congress pursuant to the Congressional
                                             2. Summary of Significant Issues Raised                 amend or otherwise revise those                       Review Act. In addition, the
                                             by Public Comments in Response to the                   requirements, except to refine the                    Commission will send a copy of this
                                             IRFA                                                    criteria that determine when DTH–FSS                  Order, including this Supplemental
                                                22. There were no comments filed                     licensees are subject to EAS obligations.             FRFA, to the Chief Counsel for
                                             that specifically addressed the proposed                More specifically, the Commission finds               Advocacy of the SBA. A copy of this
                                             rules and policies presented in the                     that the criteria triggering DTH–FSS                  Order and Supplemental FRFA (or
                                             IRFA.                                                   EAS obligations only applies in                       summaries thereof) will also be
                                             3. Response to Comments by the Chief                    instances where the FSS capacity sold                 published in the Federal Register.
                                             Counsel for Advocacy of the Small                       or leased to the video programming                    D. Additional Information
                                             Business Administration                                 distributor is effected over a DTH–FSS                  31. People with Disabilities. To
                                                23. Pursuant to the Small Business                   transponder for which (1) the center of               request materials in accessible formats
                                             Jobs Act of 2010, which amended the                     the footprint of the antenna beam                     for people with disabilities (braille,
                                             RFA, the Commission is required to                      associated with the transponder used to               large print, electronic files, audio
                                             respond to any comments filed by the                    provide the DTH–FSS service is within                 format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov
                                             Chief Counsel of the Small Business                     the United States, (2) at least 50 percent            or call the Consumer & Governmental
                                             Administration (SBA), and to provide a                  of the footprint of the antenna beam                  Affairs Bureau at 202–418–0530 (voice),
                                             detailed statement of any change made                   associated with the transponder used to               202–418–0432 (tty).
                                             to the proposed rule(s) as a result of                  provide DTH–FSS covers territory                        32. Additional Information. For
                                             those comments.                                         within the United States, or (3) where                additional information on this
                                                24. The Chief Counsel did not file any               the DTH–FSS service is marketed to                    proceeding, contact Gregory Cooke of
                                             comments in response to the proposed                    U.S. consumers, either through                        the Public Safety and Homeland
                                             rule(s) in this proceeding.                             advertising campaigns or promotional                  Security Bureau, Policy and Licensing
                                                                                                     materials that are focused on potential               Division, gregory.cooke@fcc.gov, (202)
                                             4. Description and Estimate of the
                                                                                                     subscribers located within the United                 418–2351.
                                             Number of Small Entities to Which the
                                             Rules Would Apply                                       States. If any of these three factors is              IV. Ordering Clauses
                                                                                                     present, the Commission finds that it is
                                                25. The RFA directs agencies to                                                                              33. Accordingly, it is ordered that
                                             provide a description of and, where                     likely that the DTH–FSS service is
                                                                                                                                                           pursuant to sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(o), 301,
                                             feasible, an estimate of the number of                  focused on U.S. consumers. This aspect                303(r), 303(v), 307, 309, 335, 403,
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                                             small entities that may be affected by                  of the decision is consistent with the                624(g),706, and 715 of the
                                             the proposed rules, if adopted herein.                  Commission’s intent expressed in the                  Communications Act of 1934, as
                                             The RFA generally defines the term                      First Report and Order for extending                  amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i),
                                             ‘‘small entity’’ as having the same                     EAS alert delivery to American                        154(o), 301, 303(r), 303(v), 307, 309,
                                             meaning as the terms ‘‘small business,’’                subscribers of DBS services.                          335, 403, 544(g), 606, and 615, this
                                             ‘‘small organization,’’ and ‘‘small                                                                           Order on Reconsideration is adopted,


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                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 164 / Thursday, August 23, 2018 / Rules and Regulations                                         42607

                                             and the petition for partial                            authority of the Atlantic Tunas                       not anticipate that the final rule will be
                                             reconsideration filed by PanAmSat                       Convention Act (ATCA; 16 U.S.C. 971 et                effective until September 2018.
                                             Corporation, SES Americom, Inc., and                    seq.) and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
                                                                                                                                                           Adjustment of General Category Daily
                                             Intelsat, Ltd. is hereby granted as                     Conservation and Management Act
                                                                                                                                                           Retention Limit
                                             described herein, and otherwise denied.                 (Magnuson-Stevens Act; 16 U.S.C. 1801
                                               34. It is further ordered that the                    et seq.) governing the harvest of BFT by                 The default General category retention
                                             Commission’s Consumer and                               persons and vessels subject to U.S.                   limit is one large medium or giant BFT
                                             Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference                  jurisdiction are found at 50 CFR part                 (measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved
                                             Information Center, shall send a copy of                635. Section 635.27 subdivides the U.S.               fork length (CFL) or greater) per vessel
                                             this Order on Reconsideration,                          BFT quota recommended by the                          per day/trip (§ 635.23(a)(2)).
                                             including the Supplemental Final                        International Commission for the                         Under § 635.23(a)(4), NMFS may
                                             Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the                 Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)                increase or decrease the daily retention
                                             Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small                 among the various domestic fishing                    limit of large medium and giant BFT
                                             Business Administration.                                categories, per the allocations                       over a range of zero to a maximum of
                                                                                                     established in the 2006 Atlantic                      five per vessel based on consideration of
                                             Federal Communications Commission.                                                                            the relevant criteria provided under
                                                                                                     Consolidated Highly Migratory Species
                                             Katura Jackson,                                         Fishery Management Plan (2006                         § 635.27(a)(8). On May 11, 2018, NMFS
                                             Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the         Consolidated HMS FMP) (71 FR 58058,                   adjusted the daily retention limit for the
                                             Secretary.                                              October 2, 2006) and amendments, and                  beginning of the June through August
                                             [FR Doc. 2018–18151 Filed 8–22–18; 8:45 am]             in accordance with implementing                       2018 subquota period from the default
                                             BILLING CODE 6712–01–P                                  regulations. NMFS is required under                   level of one large medium or giant BFT
                                                                                                     ATCA and the Magnuson-Stevens Act to                  to three large medium or giant BFT (83
                                                                                                     provide U.S. fishing vessels with a                   FR 21936). NMFS has considered the
                                             DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE                                  reasonable opportunity to harvest the                 relevant regulatory determination
                                                                                                     ICCAT-recommended quota.                              criteria and their applicability to the
                                             National Oceanic and Atmospheric                           The current baseline U.S. quota is                 General category BFT retention limit for
                                             Administration                                          1,058.9 mt (not including the 25 mt                   the remainder of the June through
                                                                                                     ICCAT allocated to the United States to               August 2018 subquota time period.
                                             50 CFR Part 635                                         account for bycatch of BFT in pelagic                 These considerations include, but are
                                                                                                     longline fisheries in the Northeast                   not limited to, the following:
                                             [Docket No. 150121066–5717–02]
                                                                                                     Distant Gear Restricted Area). See                       Regarding the usefulness of
                                             RIN 0648–XG366                                          § 635.27(a). The current baseline                     information obtained from catches in
                                                                                                     General category quota is 466.7 mt. Each              the particular category for biological
                                             Atlantic Highly Migratory Species;                      of the five General category time periods             sampling and monitoring of the status of
                                             Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries                         (‘‘January,’’ June through August,                    the stock (§ 635.27(a)(8)(i)), biological
                                             AGENCY:  National Marine Fisheries                      September, October through November,                  samples collected from BFT landed by
                                             Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and                    and December) is allocated a portion of               General category fishermen and
                                             Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),                      the annual General category quota.                    provided by BFT dealers continue to
                                             Commerce.                                               Although it is called the ‘‘January’’                 provide NMFS with valuable data for
                                                                                                     subquota, the regulations allow the                   ongoing scientific studies of BFT age
                                             ACTION: Temporary rule; inseason
                                                                                                     General category fishery under this                   and growth, migration, and reproductive
                                             General category retention limit                                                                              status. Prolonged opportunities to land
                                                                                                     quota to continue until the subquota is
                                             adjustment.                                                                                                   BFT over the longest time-period
                                                                                                     reached or March 31, whichever comes
                                             SUMMARY:   NMFS is adjusting the                        first. The current baseline subquotas for             allowable would support the collection
                                             Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General                     each time period are as follows: 24.7 mt              of a broad range of data for these studies
                                             category daily retention limit from three               (5.3 percent) for January; 233.3 mt (50               and for stock monitoring purposes.
                                             large medium or giant BFT per vessel                    percent) for June through August; 123.7                  NMFS also considered the catches of
                                             per day/trip to one large medium or                     mt (26.5 percent) for September; 60.7 mt              the General category quota to date
                                             giant BFT per vessel per day/trip for the               (13 percent) for October through                      (including landings and catch rates
                                             remainder of the June through August                    November; and 24.3 mt (5.2 percent) for               during the last several years) and the
                                             2018 subquota period. This action is                    December. Any unused General category                 likelihood of closure of that segment of
                                             based on consideration of the regulatory                quota rolls forward within the fishing                the fishery if no adjustment is made
                                             determination criteria regarding                        year, which coincides with the calendar               (§ 635.27(a)(8)(ii) and (ix)). Commercial-
                                             inseason adjustments and applies to                     year, from one time period to the next,               size BFT are currently readily available
                                             Atlantic Tunas General category                         and is available for use in subsequent                to vessels fishing under the General
                                                                                                     time periods. This action would adjust                category quota. As of August 17, 2018,
                                             (commercial) permitted vessels and
                                                                                                     the daily retention limit for the                     the General category has landed
                                             Highly Migratory Species (HMS)
                                                                                                     remainder of the second time period in                approximately 271.9 mt, which is 58
                                             Charter/Headboat category permitted
                                                                                                     2018, which ends August 31, 2018.                     and 57 percent of the annual base and
                                             vessels with a commercial sale
                                                                                                        Although NMFS has published a                      adjusted 2018 General category quotas,
                                             endorsement when fishing
                                                                                                     proposed rule (83 FR 31517, July 6,                   respectively. Landings since June 1,
                                             commercially for BFT.
                                                                                                     2018) to increase the baseline U.S.                   2018, are 212.6 mt, representing 91
                                             DATES: Effective August 23, 2018,                                                                             percent of the General category
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with RULES




                                                                                                     bluefin tuna quota from 1,058.79 mt to
                                             through August 31, 2018.                                1,247.86 mt and subquotas for 2018                    subquota for the June 1 through August
                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        (including an expected increase in                    31 period. If current catch rates
                                             Sarah McLaughlin or Dianne Stephan,                     General category quota from 466.7 mt to               continue with the three-fish daily limit,
                                             978–281–9260.                                           555.7 mt, consistent with the annual                  the available subquota for June 1
                                             SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              bluefin tuna quota calculation process                through August 31 period could be
                                             Regulations implemented under the                       established in § 635.27(a)), NMFS does                reached or exceeded, and NMFS would


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Document Created: 2018-08-23 00:34:20
Document Modified: 2018-08-23 00:34:20
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionPetition for partial reconsideration; final decision.
DatesEffective September 24, 2018.
ContactGregory Cooke, Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-7452, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 42603 

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